Welcome to this week's edition of the POB eNews ...

Today is Veterans Day. Last year, I wrote about my experiences interviewing several veterans for the Library of Congress' Veterans History Project, and I shared the story of Melford Donald Alldrin, who served two tours in Vietnam as an Engineering Aid Surveyor.  

The column prompted Mike Dotson, LS, of South Dakota, to write of his experience last year during the South Dakota Society of Professional Land Surveyors 25th anniversary at Mt. Rushmore.  

"At the end of the day after the lighting ceremony, the ranger called for all vets to come on down and witness the flag-lowering rite," Dotson said. "When that was done, we were asked to touch the flag and give our name and branch of service. It was amazing how many of the surveyors in attendance were also vets ..."  

This year, I can't think of a better way to fulfill the purpose of this holiday than to likewise honor the veterans among the ranks of our country's land surveying and mapping professionals.  

So here is the action plan: If you are a veteran, I invite you to send me the following information, which POB will feature early next year as part of a Web Exclusive compilation. If you are not a veteran but know of someone, whether living or dead, who should be included, please feel free to enter him or her.  

• Name
• Date of Birth
• Date of Death (if applicable)
• War/conflict
• Dates served
• Branch of service
• Final Rank
• Where served
• Type of work performed
• Significant memory or reflection
• Photos, preferably one in uniform and a current photo. (.jpg preferred)  

To all our readers who are veterans, thank you.

Have a great week,

Wendy Lyons
eNews Editor 

Did You Know? Even though World War I officially ended June 28, 1919, with the signing of the Treaty of Versailles, the fighting actually ended seven months earlier on Nov. 11, 1918, when an armistice between Germany and the Allied nations went into effect on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month-hence the celebration of Veterans Day (originally Armistice Day) on Nov. 11, or 11/11.  

In 1938, Nov. 11 became a legal holiday named Armistice Day to honor World War I veterans. Later, the orginal act was amended, at the urging of veterans organizations, to rename the holiday Veterans Day. In 1954, the amendment was approved and Nov. 11 became a day to honor American veterans of all wars.  

The November Issue is Online!

This month, POB features ...
A Golden Image by Don Talend
The Fort Knox mine near Fairbanks, Alaska, produces about 330,000 ounces of gold annually, making it one of the largest gold-producing areas in the state. According to the Alaska Department of Natural Resources Division of Mining, Land & Water, the Fort Knox deposit has yielded nearly 179.6 million tons of ore containing 4.61 million ounces of gold since 1996. ...

Imaging Goes Underground by John Stenmark LS
The old quarry and cement plant had been a fixture at the south end of Martinsburg, W.Va., since 1884. Acquired in 2002 by Essroc, a leading North American cement producer with headquarters in Nazareth, Pa., the operation began as a limestone mine and started producing Portland cement in the 1920s. ...

Scanning the Horizon by Mary Jo Wagner
There's something to be said for casual conversations with clients. Sunrise Engineering, for one, could say quite a bit. In fact, the company owes much of its ability to build a buoyant and diverse laser scanning business to the seemingly idle chitchat. ...

A Solid Link by Douglas Roy PE
In an ambitious undertaking of civil and railway engineering, the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) in 2006 embarked on a subway tunnel project to allow access between Midway and O'Hare International airports. ...

Clearing the Air by Kondios Gornelius PLS
Tensions mounted as angry villagers on the island of Pohnpei united. "You cannot come on my land!" they shouted. The villagers didn't understand that the all-volunteer team of surveyors and engineers from KnowledgeWell simply wanted to help. ...

From our Columnists ...
On the level: A tale of tragedy, diplomacy and agreement. by Robert W. Foster, PE, PLS
In 1999, the FIG General Assembly voted that the FIG Working Week 2003 would be held in Israel, but the tragic events of 2001 caused us to change those plans. First, the World Trade Center in New York was destroyed by terrorists on Sept. 11, 2001, sparking a new round of violence in the Middle East, and then anthrax began showing up in people's mailboxes. ...

Professional topography: Dumbing down surveying by Joseph V. R. Paiva, PhD, PS, PE
With the advent of our modern systems for surveying and mapping, the intrinsic worth of a surveyor's work is not in data collection but in the steps that follow. ...

Traversing the law: Finding common ground. by Jeffery N. Lucas, PLS, Esq
We are a house divided, so fundamentally split over one core issue that we are forever destined to be known as the profession where no two surveyors could ever agree on a single corner position. That is, unless we can find some common ground despite our differences. ...

Web Exclusives!
All Aboard by James L. Myers PS
Roadway Worker Protection regulations (RWP) were implemented by the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) in 1997. RWP regulations are contained in the Code of Federal Regulations Title 49 Part 214, or 49 CFR 214. RWP rules apply not only to payroll employees of a railroad but also to contract employees. ...

Web Exclusive: Conference Recap: INTERGEO 2009 by Joseph V. R. Paiva, PhD, PS, PE
INTERGEO, the annual conference and exhibition of products organized by the German Association of Surveying - German Society for Geodesy, Geoinformation and Land Management (DVW), was held September 22-24 in Karlsruhe, Germany. ...

NYC Land Surveyors PC is looking for a qualified Office Surveyor with advanced knowledge of Auto Cad; Party Chief experience a must. Medical benefits/salary based on experience. E-mail resume to: pat@nycsurveyors.com. Tel: 718/816-8182.

What is the biggest challenge to implementing laser scanning/imaging capabilities at your firm?

• Cost; the technology is still too expensive.
• Training; the technology is too complex and would require too many resources to use it effectively.
• Marketing; we've heard a lot of great things about scanning, but we don't know how to sell those services to clients.
• Lack of interest; we simply have no desire to move in that direction.
• None of the above; we've already embraced laser scanning and are successfully using it to capture new business.

Take a moment to vote at www.pobonline.com. 

Update: Surveyors Helping Surveyors 2009
The Matthews Co. Inc. reported that an additional $5,000 was raised to purchase 50 more gift cards. Applications are still being accepted.

Cy Smith to Deliver Luncheon Keynote Address at URISA Leadership Academy
Cy Smith will provide the luncheon keynote address at the conclusion of the URISA Leadership Academy (ULA) in Seattle this December 7-11.

Topcon IP-S2 demonstration at Rocket City Geospatial Conference Topcon Positioning Systems' (TPS) new IP-S2 3D mobile mapping system will be on display for a special 'Ride & Drive' exhibit at the Rocket City Geospatial Conference on Tuesday, November 17.

Engineer Troops Survey Liberty for New Maps
As the U.S. military transitions out of Iraq, the facilities and security at Camp Liberty must be improved to facilitate the increased number of soldiers moving through--an impossible task without the updated maps being provided by National Guard survey and drafting teams.

Real Estate Made Easy: Land Surveying and the land owner
Realtor gives readers an overview of land surveying and the importance of getting a land survey done before listing a house for sale.

DRT honors Westar Alamo
The Daughters of The Republic of Texas recently honored Westar Alamo Land Surveyors Inc. staff for their generous gift of the survey of The Alamo Complex.

State lifts Pahrump surveyor's license
A surveyor's license is revoked following a complaint filed by the county surveyor.

To read the latest Surveying in the Headlines, click here.

Joke of the Week: An Offer You Can't Refuse

Yesterday, a woman answered a knock on the door only to be confronted by a well-dressed young man carrying a vacuum cleaner.

"Good morning," the young man said. "If I could take a couple of minutes of your time, I would like to demonstrate the very latest in high-powered vacuum cleaners."

"Go away!" she said as she started to close the door. "I haven't got any money. I'm broke!"

Quick as a flash ...

Problem of the Week: Unit Definitions and Conversions
A surveyor making measurements to guide a welder in the installstion of a sill on a building wall must provide a 1.40 ft minimum clearance along the property line. However, the welder requires the measurement in feet and inches. What is 1.40 ft expressed to the nearest eighth of an inch?

A. 1 ft, 3 1/8 in
B. 1 ft, 3 5/8 in
C. 1 ft, 4 3/8 in
D. 1 ft, 4 3/4 in

Cool Link of the Week: "Children Map the World, Volume 2"
Just in time for the holidays, ESRI Press published "Children Map the World, Volume 2" showcasing 100 favorite world map drawings submitted to the Barbara Petchenik Children's World Map Competition 2005-2007. ...

Follow this link to access the rest of this week's Fun & Games.

Surveying Works of Art now available at AECStore.com  

The AEC Store is now offering four different pencil drawings with the surveyor in mind. Each drawing can be purchased framed or print-only. Only 100 prints available for each drawing! Four options:

• The Surveyor on the Peak 
• The Surveyor and Truck at Station Sauharita
• The Stadia Crew
• Ronald Reagan (pictured) 

Follow this link for more information about these drawings or to purchase. Call 248/244-1275 to place your order by phone.

Carlson 2010 Office Software Released
Coaching on improvements included comments like "just add a 64-bit version this round and I'll be set" all the way to several long-standing requests including multiple backsight orientation for Carlson Survey 2010, triangulation surfaces for reserves in Carlson Mining 2010, and quick graphic reports for Carlson Takeoff 2010.